Prius too quiet? New proposal may end the silence.

[BubbaMcGeeHee]

I just saw a story on Foxnews.com

Congress to Introduce Bill to Protect Blind People From Hybrid Cars

FOXNews.com - Congress to Introduce Bill to Protect Blind People From Hybrid Cars - Politics | Republican Party | Democratic Party | Political Spectrum

What do you folks think of it? Any comments?

[boulder_bum]

Seems like a waste of time/money. They should throw this bill out and reconsider it when they have record of even one blind person being hit by a quiet car.

[Bill Merchant]

Fox and news in the same sentence is an oxymoron. Do a search, Bubba, and stop

BTW, welcome to PriusChat! and this belongs in Fred's, not the main forum.

[PearlDriver]

Maybe we could mount a bell on our steering wheels.

I've seen more collisions involving bicycles and pedestrians in downtown Seattle than autos and pedestrians.

The silence while doing 55 on the freeway is one of the joys of my Prius.

[alam99]

On the one hand, we should be sensitive to the needs of those who cannot see or hear and have trouble enough trying to adapt and function in a world which, too often, ignores their needs. Perhaps some sort of "air whistle" with a limit on it so it doesn't get too loud when traveling at high speeds?

Typical pedestrians, I think, should practice what they were taught as children, to look both ways before crossing the street.

To put a different spin on it, since no one has yet been injured because of a quiet car, shouldn't law makers focus on limiting the horsepower or top speed of automobiles since high-speed impacts HAVE caused injuries?

Personally, I think having quieter cars is a sign that technological progress is being made. Reducing noise pollution as well as air pollution is a good thing.

[patsparks]

I think that bill should read something like;
All quiet hybrid cars must be fitted with tyres.

There we go, now hybrids will be just as noisy from the front as a quiet conventional car.

[hill]

I got a deck of playing cards. Let's put 'em in our spokes.

[qbee42]

Originally Posted by alam99

On the one hand, we should be sensitive to the needs of those who cannot see or hear and have trouble enough trying to adapt and function in a world which, too often, ignores their needs. Perhaps some sort of "air whistle" with a limit on it so it doesn't get too loud when traveling at high speeds? <snip>

You would need this for all modern cars, not just hybrids. Engine noise at low speed is nearly inaudible with all new designs. You mostly hear tire noise, which is the same with or without a hybrid power plant.

The focus should be on how to allow blind people to function, not on how to make cars loud. As for making noise, the Prius already has a horn, if you really think noise is the answer. Better drivers would help a lot. Perhaps we should stop giving out driver's licenses as if they came from Cracker Jack boxes and get serious about driving. It's far to easy to get a driver's license in this country, and far too hard to have it taken away.

Tom

[morpheusx]

Mine came with a factory installed audible device for pedestrians, its called the HORN. Its so weak sounding though that blind people stop to point and laugh much like the many geese and squierrels in the area.

[gman11377]

I would just rip off or disable any such device that was on my car. I read this news?!, laughed, and then stopped. Anyone remember the sci-fi story where the goverment forces everything to be equal, ie some people wear glasses they dont need to make their eyesight averagely worse, people with exceptional hearing wear reverse hearing aids and so on. This sounds like that. Anyhow just drive the prius, enjoy the quiet, and if you happen to hit a few speedbumps make sure and chalk them up on the side of your fender-fighter pilot style. I'll be concerned when this really gets to be a problem.